Qatar vs Ecuador LIVE: World Cup 2022 result, final score and reaction as Enner Valencia double downs hosts

16 mins: This one will count! Ecuador’s captain slowly shuffles up to the ball and waits for the goalkeeper to make his move. Al-Sheeb leaps to the right and Valencia slots the ball to his left.

Ecuador take the lead!

Qatar 0-0 Ecuador

15 mins: Lovely play from Ecuador sees them thread a pass up the pitch as Enner Valencia makes a splitting run in between the centre-backs.

He takes the ball into the box and is brought down by goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb who also goes in the book with a yellow card!

More early drama in this opening game.

14 mins: The first corner of the World Cup comes to Ecuador too. Gonzalo Plata delivers a decent cross into the middle of the box but he can’t get it over the head of central defender Boualem Khoukhi who powers a strong header out of the danger zone.

11 mins: Better from Qatar.

Ecuador win another free kick over on the left side of the pitch and Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan swings a low ball into the penalty area.

He beats one defender but Bassam Al-Rawi is aware enough to step up and boot the loose ball clear.

9 mins: There was a lot of controversy surrounding this World Cup off the pitch and it’s taken just six minutes for some controversy on the pitch.

At least Qatar are being consistent. Ecuador have stepped it up since the goal was disallowed, they’re starting to control possession inside Qatar’s half.

3 mins: Three minutes! That’s all it’s taken for Ecuador to score the first goal of the World Cup. The free kick is floated into the box and Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb comes out to flap the ball away.

He misses it and Felix Torres shoots on the turn. He scuffs his shot into the six-yard box where Ecuador captain Enner Valencia is free to head it into the back of the net!

2 mins: Jhegson Mendez lunges into a tackle in the middle of the pitch and wins the ball away from Akram Afif leaving the Qatari forward sprawled on the deck.

Ecuador move swiftly down the pitch and are awarded a free kick for a foul on Moises Caicedo.

And we’re off!

Qatar get the ball rolling for the 2022 World Cup and send it up the pitch with a direct ball into the Ecuador box. It’s defended easily enough but the hosts recover the loose ball.

Here come the players. The stage is set at the Al Bayt Stadium. The fans are ready.

The national anthems are played starting with Ecuador’s. Kick off for the 2022 World Cup opener is a few minutes away...

World Cup openers have a habit of throwing up a surprise, and although Ecuador would typically be expected to beat Qatar, this is no ordinary game. The home fans can carry their team to an early victory.

Qatar 1-0 Ecuador.